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While Thanksgiving may be intended as a day to give thanks for everything life has to offer, many Americans view it as a day to overcook, overeat, and overspend. Below are a few tips you can use to practice moderate spending and eating, so that you don’t break your budget—or your belt--in order to enjoy the celebration.

Here are five tips to follow so your Thanksgiving is fun, but not expensive:
1. Don't go in cold turkey – Plan a realistic budget well in advance, one that considers what you can really afford to spend on the holiday (in cash), not what you'd "like" to spend.

2. Think like a Pilgrim – The fairytale version of early Thanksgivings included a focus on saying thank you, and not trying to impress those in attendance, so be modest and frugal.

3. Remember the trimmings – not the stuffing, the decorations! Don't buy them, make them! Look online and you'll find easy-to-make, inexpensive ways to decorate your home and table.

4. Ask everyone to give thanks – Ask family and friends to bring a prepared dish, dessert or the wine, and build those items into your budgeting and planning.

5. Involve the natives – Invite your children, or some who may be attending, to prepare decorations, easy-to-make snacks, or lead after-dinner games rather than spend on entertainment.

Many families enjoy eating leftovers from dinners and dining out as a time-saving and budget-friendly meal. It is important to remember that leftovers need to be properly handled to help reduce the risk of food borne illness. Illness can be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques.
Handling leftovers

Wash your hands before and after handling leftovers. Wash all utensils, dishes and work surfaces with hot soapy water.

Keep foods out of the danger zone, between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Throw away any cooked food left in the danger zone for more than two hours.

Never rely on your nose, eyes or taste buds to judge the safety of food. You cannot tell if food is contaminated by its look, smell or taste. When in doubt, throw it out!

Cooling leftovers

Refrigerate or freeze all leftovers within two hours to minimize the chance of bacteria growing.

Refrigerate all hot leftovers promptly in uncovered, shallow containers so they cool quickly.

Very hot items can first be cooled at room temperature and then refrigerated once the steaming stops.

Leave the lid off or wrap loosely until the food is cooled to refrigeration temperature.

Storing leftovers

Always use a clean container or leak-proof plastic bag to store leftovers.

Meat from large cooked birds should be cut, deboned and stored refrigerated or frozen for safety.

Keep different types of leftovers separate to prevent cross contamination.

(BPT) - Many homeowners don't consider ceilings part of their interior design, and it shows. Most are expanses of bland white paint. But savvy do-it-yourselfers are converting these blank canvases into interesting and functional design elements that accent a room's decor, create a cozier space or disguise problems commonly found on this fifth wall.

Updating a ceiling is one of the easiest and budget-friendly ways to freshen a space. Dana Vento, DIY expert and popular home renovation blogger, recommends tackling a ceiling project that can be quickly and easily finished over the weekend. Here are her tips:

Warm up with wood. There's a reason wood flooring is so popular - it tends to warm up a room and add character. The same goes for ceilings. Real or engineered wood panels can extend your sense of style in any room. That's because they come in a wide range of tones, textures and patterns to suit any decorating style, from rustic to mid-century modern to contemporary.
Go beyond vanilla. For those who want to add a splash of color, the ceiling holds special allure. Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls (or one shade lighter) can make a small room feel larger. A bright color, say yellow or pink, could enliven a child's room, while a sky blue ceiling creates a more soothing ambiance. Black ceilings have their own design advantages, dramatically defining a dining area in an open floor plan, for instance, or enhancing the enveloping atmosphere of a home theater.

Add shimmer. Love the look of metals? Consider today's pressed metal ceiling tiles. They're far easier to install than their antique ancestors, and the light-refracting properties of copper, brass and lacquered steel can help raise the ceiling visually in any room.

A recent survey conducted by leading luxury smart home technology company Savant® reveals that more than half of consumers in the United States believe that home automation will be an everyday features in less than 10 years, and nearly one-fourth say that the technology will be an everyday feature in less than five years.

The survey further found that control/ease of use (69 percent) and convenience (58 percent) were the most important features for consumers when purchasing a new technology. Cost savings (41 percent) and safety and security (35 percent) were cited as the two primary considerations among consumers for the adoption of smart home automation systems.

Other findings include:

- When considering the purchase of a new technology, consumers ranked the following attributes as very important:

Ease of use (37 percent)

Convenience (38 percent)

Seamless integration (28 percent)

Low environmental impact (24 percent)

Personalization (32 percent)

- Nearly half (47 percent) of consumers rate personalization as extremely/very important when purchasing new technology.

- Women (49 percent) are more likely than men (34 percent) to find low environmental impact as extremely/very important when making a technology purchase.

- Consumers 50 or older (77 percent) are more likely than all other age groups to find simple control/easy to use as extremely/very important when purchasing new technology.

- Consumers between the ages of 35-49, along with those aged 65 or older, are more likely than younger consumers (18-24) to rank “cost savings” as their top consideration when purchasing new technology.

According to ShopAdvisor, procrastination may be just the ticket for those seeking the hottest holiday deals. A recent survey points to December 18 as last year’s best day to snag low prices in-store and online. The virtuousness of patience was further borne out by data showing last year's post-Black Friday discounts reaching double digits, even for some of the most coveted brands.

Surprisingly, 42 percent of the products tracked by ShopAdvisor were actually priced higher on Black Friday than in the four weeks leading up to it. Luxury goods remained undiscounted from November through January.

Other noteworthy findings:

The average discount was 17.5 percent on December 18 versus less than 5 percent on Black Friday.

Discounts were 30 percent deeper weekdays than on weekends from after Black Friday through the holiday shopping period.

While discounts continued from December 26 through New Year's Day, the deals were not as strong as those offered on December 18.

"The question becomes, are retailers planning to backload deals again this year? The perception of a stronger economy may embolden them to behave that way," says Scott Cooper, CEO, ShopAdvisor. "What is now clear, if it wasn't already, is that Black Friday is more about sport than savings – consumers competing for real deals on just a handful of limited quantity doorbusters, not widespread season's-best pricing."

Before you pack up the car to head home for the holidays, make sure your vehicle is ready for the journey. Conducting a thorough vehicle inspection will help you avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down miles away from home.

"It's easy to remember to get your family ready for the holiday festivities, but what about preparing the car that's going to get you there?" said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Having a pre-inspection performed on your car will give you peace of mind as you travel and help make your journey safer."

Before leaving home, the Car Care Council recommends a check of the following, often overlooked, items: tires and tire pressure, brakes, hoses and belts, air filters, wipers, exterior and interior lighting, and fluid levels, including engine oil, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

"A pre-trip inspection provides the opportunity to have service repairs made at home by your own trusted technician who knows the vehicle, and helps reduce the chance of costly and dangerous trouble on the road," said White.

The Car Care Council also recommends that drivers keep important telephone numbers in their cell phone or glove box in case of a breakdown or travel emergency. Vehicles should have a roadside emergency kit that includes items such as a first aid kit, a tire-changing jack, a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, a flashlight and a blanket.
Source: Car Care Council

According to a recent report by Bankrate.com, Americans' feelings about job security, comfort level with debt, net worth, and their overall financial situation all showed improvement compared to one year ago.

For the third consecutive year, Americans' top financial priority is getting caught up on bills or staying current on living expenses. Nearly half of Americans say that they are most concerned with getting a handle on their bills.

Staying current or getting caught up on bills was the most common priority across all age groups, but highest among those ages 50-64. Americans age 65 and older were more likely than any other age group to say providing financial assistance to family members or friends was their top priority. Other commonly cited top financial priorities include paying down debt (22 percent) and saving (17 percent).

Savings, however, are still a weak spot for Americans, with nearly one-third of Americans saying they're less comfortable with the amount of contributions to their savings.

In recent years, enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home with family has given way to trends like ‘Friendsgiving’ and shopping in retail stores on Thanksgiving Day. Is this the new normal among young adults today?

Leading global app Skout recently conducted a survey that sheds light on the answer. The survey questioned more than 1,300 adults on their thoughts and plans for the holiday. The results aren't what most would expect.

- Eighteen percent of adults age 30-39 are planning to spend Thanksgiving with friends, compared to just 11 percent of adults age 18-29 planning to do the same.

- The majority of adults age 18-39 agreed that retail stores should not be open on Thanksgiving Day so that employees can enjoy time with friends and family.

- Nearly half the country will be holding a potluck-style meal this year. Forty-four percent of adults surveyed plan to share kitchen responsibilities with their host and celebrate the holiday with a potluck.

From tackling holiday stains to cleaning the crevices most commonly inspected by mothers-in-law, keeping a clean home around the holidays can seem like an impossible task. Between entertaining unexpected guests and hosting get-togethers with friends and family, having a clean home is never more important than it is around the holidays.

"The holidays are a fun, but often stressful time of year. People are busy shopping, cooking and volunteering, and have little time to keep a clean and tidy home," says Debra Johnson, home cleaning expert for Merry Maids. "The good news is that there are simple tips and strategies to getting a home in tip-top shape -- from being selective with holiday décor to having a laundry closet packed with your trusty cleaning solutions -- making cleaning easier and far less stressful."

Johnson’s secrets for a spic and span home include:

Double-duty holiday décor – Holiday décor is essential to giving spaces a more festive appearance, but it can also double the amount of housework you have each day. Give your holiday décor a second life – fill a vase or hurricane with sparkly tinsel leftovers that may have fallen to the floor and use it as a festive holiday centerpiece. Coal can serve as a great odor absorber, too.

Holiday stain fighters –While red wine, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy are real crowd-pleasers, they aren't so kind to upholstery and carpets. If you notice that one of your guests left the evidence behind, blot it right away with a white cloth until all of the liquid has been absorbed. If the stain's dry, whip up a quick solution of dishwashing liquid (1 tbsp), white vinegar (1 tbsp) and warm water (2 cups) to remove the stain.

Last-minute cleaning tricks – If your home needs tidying before guests arrive, set aside 15 minutes to make your home appear like you've spent a full day cleaning it.

Grab a microfiber cloth and broom and set your kitchen timer.

Sweep up the porch, fold the throws in the living room and fluff your throw pillows.

Put a fresh stock of toilet paper in the bathroom, put away your toothbrushes and leave a festive box of tissues behind.

Throw the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on -- by the time dinner is ready, you'll have clean (and warm) dishes that are perfect for serving.

Guest rooms are one of the more under-utilized spaces in any home, and homeowners are often at a loss when it comes to decorating them. With these simple and inexpensive additions, your guest room will become a home away from home for all of your out-of-town visitors.

Liven it up.
Since guest rooms are used less frequently than others, it makes sense to inject some vitality to the space. Before your guests arrive, pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers or a potted plant. They’ll appreciate the greenery while they enjoy the comforts of your home.

Pull out all the stops.
Create a hotel-like atmosphere with key amenities. Extra blankets and pillows, travel-size toiletries, a fluffy bathrobe, slippers or even a coffee maker with a selection of roasts will go a long way towards making your guest feel at home.

Make it a part of your home.
One of the easiest ways to make a guest room feel comfortable is to give it a “lived in” appearance. Add textural accents in layers (think pillows and area rugs) and arrange decorative accessories you already own on empty surface areas.